Bottle-sealing machine



Dec. 10, 1929. A. P. STIANSEN BOTTLE SEALING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 14, 1925 aljgm A TTOH/VEY Dec. 10, 1929-. A. P. STIANSEN1,738,303

BOTTLE SEALING MACHINES Filed 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A rromvirPatented Dec. 10, 1929 ANTON 1 STIANSEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR'ro NArIoNAnsEAL' M PANY,I1\TC., or :enoonLY EwYoRK, A CORPORATION orEwYoRK BOTTLE-SEALING MACHINE Application filed February 14, 1925.Serial No. 9,086.

My invention relates to automatic machines for applylng metallic sealsor caps to the openings in the necks of bottles, jars orsimilarcontainers, and is particularlyadapted for use with the type ofseal or closure for bottles and containers shown in the two U. S. RiversPatents No. 1,304,098 of May20, 1919, and No. 1,365,274 of January 11;1921, and also in the U. S. Lee Patent No. 1,516,046 of November 18,1924, the essential features of whichare illustrated in diagrammaticform the tops of the bottle-necks in registering 'on the outside of thebottle-neck.

alinement with the spaced-apart lugs on the outside of such necks,followed by locking the seals to the bottlenecks, such seals or capsbeing turned or partially rotated in contact with the rim of thebottle-neck so that the inturned portions or lips on the dependingflanges ofthe seal or cap may engage the under sides of the spaced-apartlugs formed My improved machine is also devised so as to be readilyadjusted to bottles of different sizes and hei hts; and a furtherfeature is to simplify the construction and operation so that thelikelihood of bottle breakage is reduced to a minimum through theprovision of yieldable mountings for the clamping and locking meinberswhich apply, position and partially rotate the seals onthe'bottle-necks'in the final locking position.

omitted I r 2 parts Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 22of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is asectional elevation taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; 7

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectionaldetail View on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view onthe line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail View on the line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is anenlarged showing the seal in locking bottle neck; I

Fig. 8 is a sectional view onthe of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a View similarforced into locking position;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view partly in sec tion on the lines 10-10 ofFig- 2, showing.

one of theseal-locking heads andoassociated Figs. 11, 12 and aresectional detailiviews to Fig. with the sealv applied to the bottle neckbut not yet -60 fragmentary section position on the line 8 taken on thelines 11;11 12- 12 and 15 15 respectively of Fig. 10 v Fig.'13 is a topplan View of one of the seal gripping jaws; V

Fig. 14 is a sectional detail view on the line 14-14 of Fig. 13; j

Fi 16 is a side elevation on the line 16:16

actuating the mechanism in the looking heads used for applying andlocking the seals to the bottle-necks; and

Fig. 17 is a side elevation on the line 1717 of Fig. 1- showing the formof the cam for raising and lowering the seal-locking heads.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.I I 7 Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the standards 18 support thehorizontal platform or table ,so of Fig. 1 showing the form of the camfor 19 over which the conveyor belt 20 carrying the bottles 21 passes inthe direction of the arrows (Fig. 1) around the pulley 22 mounted on theshaft 23 journalled to the bracket 24 secured to the table 19 asshown'in Figs. 1 and 2. The belt 20 is continuously driven by thesprocket chain 25 passing around the sprocket wheel 26 fastened to theshaft 23 (Fig. 1) and the sprocket wheel 27 fastened to the constantlyrevolving cam-shaft 28 journalled in the brackets 29 and 30 secured tothe under side of the table 19 as shown in Fig. 1. The cam-shaft 28 isin turn driven by the gear 31 mounted thereto, which gear 31 meshes withthe pinion 32 mounted onthe stub-shaft 33 which carries the pulley 34inturn driven by the belt 35 actuated from any suitable source of power,for example, an electric motor which is'not shown.

Means are provided in this embodiment to bring a pair of the bottles 21in proper vertical alinement with a pair of similarly constructedseal-locking heads in suitably timed .relation with the mechanism whichcarries'the seals in verticalposition above the openings in thebottle-necks, which devices are best shown in Figs. 1-6 inclusive. Thehorizontally disposed carriage plate 36 is'slida'bl'y 'mounted. in thespaced apart guide-supports 37' aflixed to the top of the table 19 bythe cap-screws 38 as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. The carriage 36 carriesthe depending stud 39 ,to' which is pinned the rock-lever 40 fulcrumedto the stud 41' secured to the top of the table 19 (Fig. 1) The outerend 42 of the lever 40 is slotted at 43 to operatively engage with thepin 44 mounted on the horizontally reciprocating rack-bar '45 supportedinthe-bracket 46 secured to the table 19 as shown in Fig. 1. The top ofthe carriage 36 supports a pair of push plates 46 each carrying theL-shaped bracket 47 adapted to bear yieldingly against the pair ofbottles 21 (Fig.3) when the plates 46 plates-46 as shown. The cap-nuts51 on the outer ends of the rods 49 limit the forward thrust of theplates 46 by the force of the springs 48.

The rack-bar 45 is reciprocated over the table 19 by the gear 52meshingtherewith,

which gear 52 is mounted on the stub shaft 53 journalled in the brackets54 secured to. the top of the table 19. The shaft '53 carries the gear55 in mesh with the vertically reciprocating rack 56 (Figs. 1 and 2)which has pinned to'its lower end the cam-roller 57 engaging the box-cam58 mounted on the cam-shaft 28, the rack 56 being raised and lowered in.each revolution of the cam 58. The opposite end of the bar 45 isprovided on its top side with the row of teeth 59 which engage with thegear 60 mounted on one end of the'cross'shaft 61 jou'rnalled in thebracket 62. ;The other end ofthe'shaft 61 carries the gear 63 m'eshingwith the rack 64 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4)- secured to the under side of theslide plate 65 mounted in the guide supports 66 secured to the top ofthe table 19. The plate 65 carries the two seal nests 67 each comprisingthe lugs 68 and 69 and the inclined The operator slides the seals 71 upthe inclined guides 70 from the plate 65 to position such seals in thetwo seal nests 67.

' Means are provided to return the pair of bottles 21 tothefconveyorbelt 20 after the seals 71 have been applied and lockedthereto I which'are best shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and" 6. Opposite tobrackets 47 and in horizontal alinement therewith is the L-shaped plate73 adapted to engage the neck and side of the bottles (Fig. which plate73 is mounted on the inner endsof the rods 74 slidably mounted in thelugs 7 5" integral with the supports 66 (Fig. 4). Referring more particularly to. Fig. 6, the outer ends of the rods 74 have pinned theretothe sleeves 7 5 adapted to slide in the bores 76 of the brackets 77formed on the outer ends of the supports 66. The outer ends of the boressaf 76 are screw-threaded and have fitted thereto the exteriorly=threaded sleeves 78 on which are threaded the hollow adjusting caps 79.

Coiled about the rods 74 are the compression springs 80, one end bearingagainst the outer ends of the sleeves while the other ends press againstthe heads of the caps 7 9. WVhen the bottles 21 are held on the standard72 between the push-plates 46 and plate 73 (Fig. 3), the springs 80 arecompressed by the outer movements of the rods 74; when the pushplates 46are retracted across the conveyor belt 20, the springs 80 force rods 74and the plate 73 to the left (Fig. 3). and so push the pair of bottles21 back again upon the constantly-moving conveyor belt 20. The bar 81 ofthe carriage plate 36 holds the line of bottles 21 from forward movementon the belt 20 when the carriage 36 is in its extended position'as shownin Figs. 1 and 3. The pins 82 mounted on the rods 74 and the rings 83integral with the sleeves 75 limit the inner and outer movements of therods 74 by engaging the lugs 7 5 and brackets 77 respectively. Byturning the caps 79 on the sleeves 78 the tension of the springs 80 maybe adjusted for bottles of different sizes and diameters.

Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the seals 71,

more particularly shown and described in the U. S. Letters Patenthereinbefore mentioned, comprise the depending skirt or flange 84 havingaplurality (in this embodiment four) of inturned lips 85 adapted toengage with the under surface of a like number of spaced-apartprojecting lugs 86 formed on the neck of the bottle 21 as shown in Figs.7 and 8. Fig. 9 shows the position of the lips between the lugs 86before the former are partially rotated to force the lips 85 beneath thelugs 86 to lock the seal 71 in position" on the rim of the bottle 21.

The devices for applying the seals or caps to the bottles 21 comprisethe head frame 87 slidably mounted for vertical reciprocations in theupright standards 88 secured to the top of the table 19 by cap-screws 89(Figs. 1 and 2). The frame 87 is provided with a pair of guide bars 90adapted to slide within the vertical rooves 91 formed in the supports 88as shown. The lower part of the frame 87 carries the dependent bracket92 formed with the rectangular slot 93 within which slides the block 94carrying the pin 95 pivoted to the rock-lever 96. The rock-lever 96 isfulcrumed on the stub-shaft 97 mounted on the bracket 98 secured to theunder side of the table 19 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The outer end ofthe rock-lever 96 (Fig. 17) carries the cam-roller 100 adapted to ridein the runway .of the box-cam 101 fastened to the cam-shaft 'the bottles21 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The devices for gripping, positioning and locking the seals on thebottles together with t the mechanism to actuate same are best shown inFigs. 1. 2, 3 and 10 to 15'inclusive, and comprise the pair of heads 102secured to the frame 87. As the detailed structure and operation of thetwo heads 102 are the same, the description of a single head and itsassociated parts will only be set forth. Referring more particularly toFig. 10, the head 102 has journalled therein the rock-sleeve 103 towhich is keyed the pinion 104 in mesh with the gear 105 mounted on theupper end of the rock-' shaft 106 journalled in the head 102; the lowerend of the shaft 106 passing through the table 19 carries the wide gear107 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is engaged by the rack-bar 108 sli'dablysupported by the brackets 109 secured to the under side of the table 19(Fig. 2). The outer end of the rackbar 108 carries the cross-pin .110which engages with the slotted end 111 of the rock-lever 112 pivoted tothe bracket 113 secured to the standard 114, all as shown in Fig. 2. Thelever 112 has pinned thereto the cam-roller 115 (Fig. 1) which isadapted to ride in the runway of the box-cam 116 mounted on thecam-shaft 28 and shown in detail in Fig. 16. The reciprocating motionimparted to the rack-bar 108 under the influence of the cam 116partially rotates the gear 105 and sleeve 103 with predetermi-nedl-yvariable movements in both directi-ons aswm hereinafter be moreparticularly described. 7

To the upper exteriorly-threaded end of the sleeve 103 is removablysecured the hollow cap 117 having its head formed with the threaded bore118 engaged by the screw-bolt 11.9 adj ustably heldby the lock-nut 120in any predetermined position. The head 121 of the bolt 119 bearsagainstthe coil'compression spring 122 extending through the sleeve 103 withthe lower end ofthe spring 122 bearing against the head'123 of thespindle 124 held by the key 125 to slide in the lower enlarged end 126of the sleeve 103 which carries the gasket 127 held against the head102. The lower end of the spindle 124 is screw-threaded to carry thecollar128 which is screw-threaded in the upper end of the verticallymovable clamping sleeve 129 which fits loosely in the bore 130 formed inthe lower end of the head 102 as shown. Slidably held within the upperpart of the'sleeve 129 by the key 131 is the tubular collar 132 adaptedto have a recipro- The coil-spring 133 bearing against the collar 128and the head of the chuck 134 threaded to the collar 132 normally forcesthe 'collar'132 and chuck .134 to their lowest position'in the clampingsleeve 129, Fig. 10 showing them in their midway position.

. The seal-gripping devices are actuated in suitable timed'relation withthe positioning and locking mechanism and are best shown in Figs. 10,12', -13 and'14 enclosed within the bore 135 formed in the, lower end ofthe clamping sleeve 129. The lower end of the chuck 134 carries threecross-pins 136 (Figs. I

'10 and .12) on which are pivoted the three grip-per jaws 137 (Figs. 13and 14) having their lower ends outwardly beveled at 138 sleeve 129 asshown in Fig. 10 simultaneous- 105 to slidably coact with the flared rim139 of the 1 ly to force the jaws 137 inwardly to firmly grip the seals71. The chuck 134 carries the cross-pin 140 on which is secured thecentrally-disposed. bar141 having its head 142 in alinement with andadjacent the shoulders 143 formed on the jaws 137. Coiled about the bar141 is the spring 144 theupper end bearing against the inner lugs 145integrally formed on the gripping jaws 137 while the lower end bears onthe head 142 carried by the-bar 141,1the pin 140 preventing the spring144 from withdrawing the bar 141 from the chuck 134. The force of thespring 144 on the lugs 145 normally keeps the jaws 137myieldingly'compressed position ready to pick up the seal or cap, whilethe head 142 prevents the jaws from being pressed inwardly by the spring144 or theclamping sleeve 129 before the chuck 134 is lowered so as topreclude any possibility of the jaws 137 breaking the rims-of thebottles 21 when'the head 102 is lowered in case the operator hasfailedto place seals inthe nests 67.

@The operation of the. hereinbefore' described mechanism during a cycleis substantially' as folloWszThe carriage plate 36 is retracted at whichtimethe conveyor belt 20 carries a pair of bottles 21 opposite thepush-plates 46 when the carriage 86 is projected, the bar 81 holding theflow ofbottles 21 in check as shown-in Fig. 1. The pair ofbottles 21 arethereupon carried from the .belt 20 on to the standard 72 (Figs. 2 and3) with the; plate 7 3forced-outwardly with the springs 80vundercompression. Thereafter the plate is advanced inwardly with a pair ofseals 71 which have already been manually moved up the inclined guidesand positioned in the nests 67 until such nests 67 are in alinement withthe bottles 21 and heads '102,after which the plate 65 and nests 67 arebrought to their retracted position as shown in Fig. 3. The timing ofthe push-plates 46 is such that they will "move forward the instant" theuncapped-bottles 21 are in aline -ment and the plates46 and slide plate65 appreach the capping position in alternate succession whichmay be setforth as follows: After the seals 71 have been placed in thenests 67 theslide plate 65 will carry the seals into verticalalinement with theheads 102 and the push-plates 46' will simultaneously recede from theirFig. 1 positionwhich permits the pair of sealed bottles to be pushedback on the conveyor belt. 20. The sealing heads 102 will then lower andpick up the seals 71 from the nests 67 while the ush-plates 46 willadvance to bringa pair of unsealed bottles 21 onto the standard 72beneath the hcads102; simultaneously the slide-plate 65 will withidrawbringing the nests 67 into seal-positioning for the operator while theheads 102 will descendto position and lock the seals 71 onthe bottles.The particular mechanisms actuated by the cams-101 and 116 intimed'relation with each other "01116 into operation,

according as the cam-rollers 100 and 115 pass simultaneously through therespective A, B,-

C,,D and E sectors of the two cams 101 and 116 rotatingas shown in Figs.'17 and 16 respectively with the relative positions of these cams on theshaft 28 as illustrated in these two figures. The heads 102 are firstlowered from their raised position to pick up the seals by thespring-pressed jaws 137 when expanded as the roller 100 rides along thefirst half of the E sector of the runway of the cam 101 (Fig. 17) andthe heads are then raised (last half of E sector inFig. 17) withtheseals taken from thenests 67 during which time roller 115 rides alongthe dwell of the cam 116 (E sector Fig. 16) at the end of the E sectorof the cam 101 (Fig. 17) the heads 102 are again lowered to locate theseals between the lugs 86 on the bottle-necks. While theheads 102 are solowered (A sector Fig.

17) the spindles 124 have a quick twisting movement imparted to them(approximately (Fig. 9) with the seals fitting snugly on the 135) inboth directions as the cam-roller 115 rides through the A sectorof thecam 116 (Fig. 16), which twist locatesor registersthe inturned lips 85between the lugs 86 bottle openings. This twisting movement of thespindles 124 is followed by a further lowering movement of the heads 102as shown by the B sector (Fig. 17) during which the clamping sleeve 129is forced downwardly to cause the jaws 137 to positively grip the seals,as shown by the B sector in Fig. 16, heretofore lightly held by the jaws137 through'the tension of the spring l itbearing on the lugs 1 15. Thespindles 124 are then rotated clock- 100v passes through the C sector inFig. 17,

' during which the bottles 21 are held tightly as shown in Fig. 3, suchclockwise rotation being sufficient to bring the lips 85 beneath thelugs 86 as shown in Figs.'7 and 8 with the wise about 459as shown by theC sector (Fig. 16), with the heads 102 lowered as the roller seals 71 infirm locking engagement withthe bottles 21. Thereafter the heads 102'arelifted as the cam-roller 100 passes through the D sector (Fig. 17) whichmovement raises the clamping sleeve129 to releasethejaws 137,.andthenthe spindles12t are rotated counter-clockwise about 45 as thecam-roller115 passes from the D sector to the E sector (Fig. 16). At this movementthe carriage plate 36. is withdrawn by the reverse move ment of thebar45 and the plate 73 pushes the sealedbottles back onto the conveyor belt20 and the bar 81 is retracted top'ermit the forward unsealed bottle. 21to abut against the left sealed bottle (Figs. 1 and 2) with the pair ofadjacent unsealed bottles 21 ready to be advanced on the standard 72 inthe next cycle as the two sealed bottles are carried away on'theconveyor belt 20, and thecycle of operation is completed.

WVhile the construction herein shown and described embodies theinvention in a preferred form, it will be understood that changes andvariations may be made in the movable sealing head having a thereinrotatable seal clamp, means for lowering and raising said head and clampto and from the bottle,- means for preliminarily twisting'the clamp andseal positioned on the bottlein both directions horizontally on thebottle opening, said means thereafter turning the clamp in one directionto lock the seal to the bottle.

3. In a bottle-sealing machine, a sealing head having a thereinrotatable seal clamp, means for lowering and raising said head and clampto pick up a seal for the bottle opening and for thereafter loweringsaid clamp and seal to position the latter on the bottle opening, meansfor twisting the clamp and seal in both directions horizontally on thebottle opening during said last-mentioned lowering movement, said meansthereafter turning the clamp in onedirection to lock the seal on thebottle.

4:. In a bottle-sealing machine, a vertically movable sealing headhaving a therein rotatable seal clamp, means for lowering and raisingsaid head and clamp to pick up a seal for the bottle opening and forthereafter lowering said clamp and seal to position the latter on thebottle opening, means for twisting the clamp and seal in both directionshorizontally on the bottle opening during said last-mentioned loweringmovement, said means thereafter turning the clamp in one direction tolock the seal on the bottle.

5. In a bottle-sealing machine, a sealing head having a thereinrotatable seal clamp, means for imparting to said clamp and seal acompound twisting movement horizontally head having a plurality ofdepending, pivoted jaws concentrically disposed for grippingaseal at aplurality of spaced apart points, a

centrally-disposed spring bearing on said of said jaws.

10. In a bottle-sealing machine, a plurality of bottle-holders, a likeplurality of coacting sealing heads each having a therein rotatable sealclamp to grip a seal and position same on the bottle openings, means forpreliminarily twisting each clamp and seal on the bottle in bothdirections horizontally on the bottle openings, said means thereafterturning the clamp in one direction to lock the seal to the bottle, alloperated through the continued movement of the machine.

ANTON P. STIANSEN.

in both directions to register the seal on the bottle opening, saidmeans thereafter turning the clamp in one direction to lock the seal onthe bottle.

6. In a bottle-sealing machine, a sealing head having a thereinrotatable seal clamp,

means for lowering said head to the bottle and means for imparting tosaid clamp and seal a twisting movement in both directions horizontallyon the bottle opening with a subsequent turning movement in onedirection While said head is being lowered to the bottle.

7 In a bottle-sealing machine, a bottleholder, a coacting sealing headvertically movable with respect to said holder, means vertically movableand rotatable in said head to grip a seal and position same on thebottle, means for lowering said head to the bottle, means for twistingsaid sealrgripping means in both directions on the bottle opening, saidmeans thereafter twisting said seal in one direction to lock same onsaid bottle during continued movement of the head to the bottle.

8. In a bottle-sealing machine, a sealing head having a plurality ofdepending, pivoted jaws concentrically disposed for gripping a seal at aplurality of spaced apart points, a centrally-disposed spring bearing onsaid jaws for lightly gripping the seal, a

vertically movable clamping sleeve surrounding said jaws to force thelatter inwardly on the seal, and means to limit the inward movement ofsaid jaws.

9. In a bottle-sealing machine, a sealing

